The AMNL focuses on (1) the design and fabrication of novel MEMS/NEMS devices; and (2) micro- and nanorobotic manipulation. We develop new processes and employ novel materials to construct functional devices. On the front of micro- and nanorobotics, we create micro-nanorobotic systems integrating MEMS/NEMS tools and develop intelligent manipulation strategies to manipulate micro-nanometer sized objects (e.g., biological cells, molecules, and nanomaterials such as nanotubes and nanowires).

New types of micro/nano devwices and systems enable a range of biological/biomedical and engineering applications that we currently pursue. Our skills include device design, fabrication, and testing; micro-nanorobotic control; computer vision microscopy; pN force sensing; cellular biomechanics; and the electro/mechanical characterization of biological cells and nanomaterials.

Current sponsors include NSERC, CIHR, CFI, MMO, and Connaught. The team is working on projects along the following directions:  

  • MEMS (microelectromechanical systems):

    • Solid-state sensor and actuator design, fabrication, and testing

    • BioMEMS

    • Wireless implantable MEMS

    • Microfluidic devices

  • Nanomanipulation, nanoassembly, and NEMS construction:

    • Manipulation of nano objects

    • Assembly of nano structures (nanoassembly)

    • Characterization of nanostructure properties

    • NEMS (nanoelectromechanical systems) sensor and actuator design, fabrication, and testing

  • Biological/biomedical studies assisted by MEMS/NEMS (e.g., MEMS-based cell differentiation control; cellular biomechanics aided by MEMS/NEMS devices)

  • Microrobotics:

    • Microrobotic biomanipulation. Manipulating bio-materials (e.g., DNA and individual biological cells) with microrobotic systems

    • Visual servoing with high-resolution and low-depth-of-field visual feedback

    • Microforce and nanoforce control by integrating MEMS/NEMS devices

    • High precision position control

    • Assimilation of feedback from multi-modalities

Before we update this page and provide details on the projects, information can be obtained by contacting us. 

News
On a competitive basis, AMNL was awarded MEMS design software packages (ANSYS, MEMSPro, and Coventorware) by the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation to support AMNL's research in MEMS/NEMS.

AMNL's paper "Design of a MEMS-based nanomanipulator with sub-nanometer resolution" by X.Y. Liu and Y. Sun was nominated for Best Student Paper Award (one of 4 finalists of 445 papers) at the 2006 IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation. AMNL has filed a patent on this technology.